Nowadays, almost every large company that is somehow connected with information technology has a data center. Its purpose is to provide a high-quality connection of all computers and other devices located within a building to the network.
Typically, a data center is presented as a separate room, which is specially equipped for servers. However, it is not easy to choose premises for the organization of a data center since many conditions should be met.
Why is it Crucial to Monitor the Environs
Any operating device tends to emit heat during a performance. High-precision network equipment is subject to this concern. Servers, drives, and other computing devices produce a lot of heat. Thus, it is crucial to monitor the data center for optimal temperature.
As for other parameters, system administrators must achieve an optimal humidity level to ensure smooth and uninterruptible system functioning.
If any of the conditions are not met (it is very humid or hot in the room), this will inevitably lead to system hardware damage, failure, breaking, and crushing. Now you realize why it is so important to control optimal environment indicators within the data center.
Environmental Monitoring in Your Data Center
Principle Characteristics to be Monitored
Now, when we’re aware of the importance to maintain optimal conditions in server rooms, let’s consider what indicators are subject to precise data center environmental monitoring:
1.The temperature within server furniture (racks and cabinets)
Devices are stored in specialized furniture, namely rack and cabinets. If you need one, you can find a huge choice of quality furniture on https://sysracks.com/.
As mentioned above, computing hardware heats well. Thus, it is important to control the temperature within the body. Special temperature sensors are installed to monitor the required temperature level. Additionally, CPU temperature can also be measured.
If you deal with open-frame racks, natural airflow passes through devices cooling them. This model of server furniture is better in terms of cooling. If we talk about enclosed cabinets, forced ventilation (fans and other systems) must be installed.
Note that to avoid heat exchange and prevent overheating, it is important to accommodate hardware loosely within the rack/cabinet.
2. Humidity control
From the point of view of security, note that low air humidity leads to the accumulation of static electricity on metal surfaces. There are plenty of them in the computer rooms, so maintaining a humidity level of at least 20%, and preferably higher, is a vital task.
High humidity in the data center causes condensation on relatively cold surfaces. This can lead to corrosion of conductors and oxidation of contacts, which in turn can cause the failure of computer system components, rust on the cabinets/racks and circuit boards, intermittent operation, and damage to expensive equipment.
3. Power supply
Telecommunication equipment functions 24/7 and consumes a lot of electricity. When connecting several powerful devices to the circuit, the system may fail if it is not designed for high loads. Thus, you should make sure that the distribution unit that caters to your premises is powerful enough to power the data center with all its equipment.
Also, poor power supply leads to unstable hardware performance, which causes increased wear of devices.
4. The temperature in the room
Warm and cold airflow continuously circulate in the server room. Cooled air is generated by air conditioners and other devices in the cooling system, while hot air is pushed out by server fans. When the optimal balance between streams of different temperatures is maintained, the equipment in the data center works smoothly and stably. If it gets too hot, there are risks of failure, equipment fails prematurely, critical data is lost, and services stop.
Temperature rise in server rooms affects not only computing equipment but also uninterruptible power systems. At temperatures above +25°C, the service life of the batteries is reduced by 2-5 years depending on the temperature rise.
5. Fire suppression
The premises designed for server room accommodation must be equipped with all the required tools and devices to suppress a fire. The fire inspectorate must check the room and issue a permit for arranging a server room. It is vital to install fire detectors, means of preventing ignition and extinguishing a fire.
6. Static electricity
Static voltage adversely affects electrical components, instantly knocking hardware out of service, resulting in intermittent operation and loss of data.
7. Water leaks
Water harms electrical hardware and leads to metal corrosion, which is harmful to both circuit boards, devices, and server furniture. Make sure that the plumping system does not leak.
8. Accessibility
Data centers do not stand constant contact with humans. Thus, a limited circle of staff must have access to the room. These are system administrators responsible for system management, hardware maintenance, and performance control.
If you keep in mind the above-mentioned points and equip your premises with data center monitoring solutions, your hardware and datum will be reliably protected, and function smoothly.
FAQ:
Q1. What is the ideal temperature range for a data center?
A1. The ideal temperature range for a data center is between 64°F and 80°F (18°C and 27°C).
Q2. Why is humidity important in a data center?
A2. Humidity is important in a data center because too much or too little humidity can cause damage to sensitive equipment. The ideal humidity range for a data center is between 40% and 60%.
Q3. What are some ways to improve energy efficiency in a data center?
A3. Some ways to improve energy efficiency in a data center include using energy-efficient equipment, improving cooling systems, and implementing virtualization technologies.
Q4. How can I ensure that my data center is secure?
A4. You can ensure your data center is secure by implementing physical security measures (access control systems and surveillance cameras) and logical security measures (such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems).
Q5. How often should I conduct maintenance checks in my data center?
A5. You should regularly conduct maintenance checks in your data center, such as weekly, monthly, and annually. This will help identify potential problems and prevent downtime.
